§ 47. Mr. GALLACHERasked the Prime Minister the reason why he did not receive the deputation of the Mineworkers' Federation of Great Britain in person, in view of the importance of the matters they were raising?
§ The PRIME MINISTERAs the hon. Member is aware, there is a Government Department specifically concerned with the care of all matters in connection with the mining industry. In accordance with the accepted principles of public administration, the Minister in charge of that Department is acting on behalf of the Government in the matter.
§ Mr. GALLACHERAs a matter of fact, is not the miners' case so strong that while the Department, on the plea of having no power, can evade the issue, the Prime Minister could not evade the issue, and did not dare to face it?
§ The PRIME MINISTERMay I say, in answer to that question, that when a sentence is prefaced by the words "as a matter of fact," it is always very remote from fact.